Automatic work control means for metal-working machines



Dec. 13, 1949 N. B. SMITH w 2,490,841

AUTOMATIC WORK CONTROL MEANS FOR METAL WORKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1'ori ina; Filed Aug. s, 1941 .NEVIN B. SMITH .Dec. 13, 1949 N. 5. 32,490,841 AUTOMATIC WORK. CONTROL MEANS FOR. METAL WORKING MACHINESOriginal Filed Aug 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/who'll Nzvm B. SMITHDec. 13, 1949 v N. B. SMITH AUTOMATIC WORK CONTROL MEANS -3 Sheets-Sheei5 FOR METAL WORKING MACHINES Original Filed Aug. 8, 1941 NEVIN B SMITHPatented Dec. 13., 1949 AUTOMATIC WORK CONTROL MEAN S FOR METAL-WORKING- MACHINES NevinB. Smith, Hamburg, Pa, assignor-to LandisMachine Company,--Waynesboro, Pa; a corpora;- tion of PennsylvaniaOriginal application August '8, 1941, Serial 'No.

406,049, now PatentN'o. 2,360,906, datedoctober'24y1944. Divided andthisapplication ctdber 21, 1944, Serial No. 5593800 Claims.

This invention relates 2.to automatic. work control means formetalworkingmachines, and is more particularly applicable to a multipleor single unit nipple threading machine .of the type disclosed .in mypending application for patent Serial No. 06,049, 2f1le'd August 8,1941, now Patent No. 2,3603906, issued October 24, 1944, and of whichthe subjectmatter of the present application is a division.

It is the general object and purpose of the present invention to providepositively operating power driven mechanism for automatically con--trolling the releasable mounting of work .pieces on reciprocating workcarriages whereby the work piece may be accurately positioned relative sseveral views: to spaced cutting tools foroperation upon differ- Figure1 is a side elevation illustrating one cut parts of the work piece.practical embodiment'of my invention as applied It is another object ofthe invention to prot0amu D i' pp threading-machine; vide a work holdingand. releasing device assoi u e Z S a from? end-Elevation thereof;ciated with each of the spaced cutting tools with 20 F ur 3 is a v rt als ti nal view t rou h means for reciprocating said devices relative to hQ f l o h reciprocating o each th including common power drivencarriages :and illustrating the means for operat control member, andmeans op'eratively conme the control means for e fl d p t d nected withsaid control member for operating Q P actuating t Q-WOrkhOIdrngdevices;said work holding and" releasing devices in propsu e 4 IS a transversesectional view taken erly timed'relation to their reciprocating motions33332 21 ggf g isg ifiafg ggitg5 gb to hold thework'pie'ce for movementtherewith Q I i relative to the threading tool, or to release said ftifi ifi g fi fi f ai 3 Work piece t t glagaggles W]. a e wor 0 mg evicemoun c It is an additional object of he inven ion to provide worktransfer mechanism connected with f iiz g g f; ffiggg g i gigggg g and pt P Said W (inven control threaolin machine having a suitable supportingher whereby the work piece is automatically d'eframe sgructure m uponwhich Spaced apart 11Vered.t EP 9 or i li 5- horizontal spindles, one ofwhich is lllustratedat i fr to h m 52 are journalled in suitable bearingmeans. 1y timed 181231011 with-the reciprocating motions The spindles ,2are provided at their forward of said carriages and w th the operat onof said ends with cutting tools, as generally indicated work.holdm.gandreleaslilg'devwes' at 14 and 16, respectively, said tools in this"in"- It 15 a i further Oblect of m mvePtlon m stance comprising screwthreading die heads 'of one embodlmen't thereof to Hulda f conventionalconstruction. The two spindles Sure Operated means for actuatmg thereclp may be'driven from any convcnientpower source, rocatory workholding device to work holding and but for this purpose, I have Shown asuitable releasing posifiqn and to provide means for motor l8 mountedupon themachi'ne frame and trolling the g Pressure SUPPIY actuated by423' having its shaft connected with the countershaft means operatlvelyconnected w a part of the 2:1 by the driving chain 22. One end ofthelatter power driven means for reciprocating said device. h t, is providd t t pinion 24 having It is also the general aim and P r Of e drivingengagement with gears 26 fixed to the present invention .to provide awork control re d of t t l 'spindleg If desired, mechanism as abovecharacterized which em- 50, hand wheel ZBimay be secured to theforward'end bodies comparatively few cooperating parts of simplestructural form, assembled in a compact organization which may 'bereadily applied to standard types of nipple threading orother metalWorking machines at reasonable cost, to materi- 2 ally increase theutility and serviceability thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises theimproved work control means for metal working machines, and theconstruction and relative arrangement of the several parts thereof, aswill'be hereinafter more fully "described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoinedclaims.

:In the drawings wherein I have shown one simple andpractical-embodiment of my invention and in whichsimilar referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts throughout the or countershaft20 to rotate the gears manually for the purpose of checking theoperation of the machin'eduring various phases thereof.

In the machine frame and in coor'ierati'velyas-e sociated relation withthe cutting tools M and Hi,

, 3 respectively, the work carriages indicated at 30 and 32,respectively, are mounted for reciprocating movement on the usualslide-ways. Each of these carriages, upon the end thereof, which isopposed to the cutting tool or die head, is provided with a work holdingand releasing device, which, as shown in Figure 2, includes a stationaryjaw member 34 and a movable jaw member 36. The latter jaw member isactuated by a fluid motor 38 having a piston 40 with which said jawmember is connected. The jaws 34 and 36 of each work holder are adaptedto engage the opposite sides of a work-piece positioned between the sameto securely clamp and rigidly hold the work-piece with its axis inalignment with the axis of rotation of the cutting tool or die head I4or I6. The means for automatically controlling the operation of thefluid motors 38 in the reciprocation of the work carriages will be laterdescribed.

The means for positioning the work piece in the work holder and fordisplacing the work piece therefrom and supporting said work piece, withrespect to the work holder and carriage, is fully described in myco-pending application, above identified. Since this feature constitutesno essential part of the present invention it will not be hereindescribed in further detail. Also the specific means for relativelyreciprocating the work carriages 30 and 32 is fully described in saidpending application and will not be herein set out in detail. For thepurpose of this explanation, the following description of the poweroperated means whereby such reciprocatory motion is imparted to the workcarriages will sumce.

Referring to Figure 1, each work carriage has a depending lug 42connected by a rod 44 to a slide member 46 mounted in an auxiliary frame48 which is attached to the main frame I of the machine. Between theseslide members a control drum 50 is located and is formed upon itsperipheral surface with suitable cam means I cooperating with rollers,indicated at 52, on said slide members and controlling the reciprocatorymotions of the respective work carriages in timed relation with eachother.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the drive shaft 54 isconnected at its rear end by the chain and sprocket or other powertransmitting connection 55 with the spindle I2 of one of the rotarycutting tools. A tubular shaft 56 surrounds the shaft 54 and issupported for rotation relative thereto by suitable bearing sleeves 58as shown in Figure 3. The carriage control drum 50 is formed with aninternal hub 60 which is keyed or otherwise rigidly fixed as at 62 toone end of the tubular shaft 56. This end of said shaft terminates in,or has secured thereto, an enlarged cylindrical head 64 abutting the endof the hub 60, said head being provided in its periphery with a camtrack 66 for a purpose to be presently explained. The drive shaft 54 hasa reduced rear end extending beyond the drum 50' and journalled in asuitable bearing in the fixed part 68 of the frame 48. Upon this end ofthe drive shaft, a pinion I0 is keyed or otherwise fixed and is inconstant mesh with the gear I2 journalled upon the stud shaft I4 fixedin the frame part 68, said gear in turn meshing with the internal gearI6 fixed to the rear end of the control drum 50. Thus it will beunderstood that rotation is transmitted through the drive shaft 54 tothe carriage control drum at a reduced speed relative to the speed ofrotation of the cutting tools I4 and I6.

for a further detail understanding thereof.

Between the spaced reciprocating work carriages, a work transfer device,generally indicated at I8 in Figure 1 of the drawings is mounted. Thespecific construction of this transfer device and the operatingmechanism therefor forms the subject matter of another divisionalapplication and is fully disclosed in the parent application aboveidentified, to which reference may be had As shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, the operating mechanism for this transfer device includes theoscillatory drive shaft journalled in a suitable bearing on a fixed partof the frame 48 at the rear of the carriage control drum 50. To thisshaft the gear 84 is fixed in meshing engagement with the teeth of thegear segment 86 suitably mounted on the fixed frame part of the machine.This gear segment carries the roller 88 cooperating with the cam track90 formed in the rear end wall of the carriage control drum 50. Thus itwill be apparent that the work transfer device I8 will be operated bysaid control drum in timed relation with the reciprocatory motion of thework carriages 30 and 32.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, at each side of the cam64, a bracket arm 92 fixed to or integrally formed with the frame member68 is positioned. To each of these bracket arms, the lower end of afollower 94 is pivotally connected as at 96. Intermediate of its ends,each follower carries a roller 98 engaged in the cam track or groove 66of cam 64 so that in the rotation of the tubular shaft 56 the followers94 will be oscillated in accordance with the particular configuration ofthe cam track 66.

The upper end of each follower arm 94 is adjustably connected to a valvestem ")0 by means of adjusting nuts I02 and lock nuts I04. These valvestems are connected with valves I06 and I08, respectively, which controlthe supply of pressure fluid to motors 38 for the operation of the workholding and releasing devices on the carriages 30 and 32, respectively.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, high pressure fluid is suppliedthrough the pipe line H0 and branch pipes H2 and H4 to the controlvalves I06 and I00, respectively. Each of said valves controls thesupply of pressure fluid through the pipe lines H6 and H8, includingflexible pipe sections I20 and I22, to the cylinder of one of the motors38 at opposite sides of the piston 40 therein. Thus it will beunderstood that in the oscillation of the follower arms 94, the controlvalves I06 and I08 are actuated to supply high pressure fluid to therespective motors and operate the work clamping or holding devices tosecurely hold the work-piece on the respective carriages in accuraterelation to the respective rotary cutting tools I4 and I6 and to releasethe work-piece after the same has been operated upon by said tools, intimed relation with the reciprocatory motions of the respectivecarriages 30 and 32.

As fully described in my original application, in the operation of theabove mechanism, the work pieces are singly fed from a magazine shown atI24, to the reciprocating carriage 30. Assuming that a work piece, heldby the work holder on this carriage in accurate coaxial relation withthe rotary cutting tool I4, has been threaded or otherwise operated uponat one of its ends by said tool, at the end of such operation, asuitable trip mechanism (not shown) withdraws the cutting elements fromcontact with the work piece. In the reverse or retracting movement ofthe carriag sSDi control value, i116 .-.iszzoperated; totadniit highpressure thrdugh pipelines l 1:6, A22 to; the; inner. end lof .,;the;mo.t.or.- cylinder .mounted on said carriage, thereby voperatingthemovable element :36 .of thework holder. to releasethework piece. In thefurtherl-retracting;movementnf themarriage the workpiece Qisdisengagedfrom the holder and is supported; in..a..s.tationar-y-.:position. in themanner shownin. my pending. a plication.

The transfer. device i8: is now operated bmthe control .drum :50 to pickthe remit-finished workpiece andtransfer thessamegwith: its unifina ihed.end 1 in opposed relation :to the other .--r tating. tool. .or. die,head 1' l and. deposit the same onsunporting means on:the. .carria e 32aTrcurate axial alignment withsaid cuttingtool,, as seen in Eigure12.

In he, meantimaas shown in-zl fisureiafil rwolik piecehas .been-.comple.t.ely:finished by the ;;too1.-:ti and, in the retractingmovement. of. the tan-184 3 ,.the movablev elementjfi of :the workholder thereon .is actuated. by thecpera icm oi contro Valve I08 torelease thework-piecewhich isthen discharged ,rrcmthe. machi y h newlyan ferred isemirfiinishedl-workrp c n the carria e Further retracting.movement of th ea ria efi positi ns th ,.semi:. inished work-pi ce 1 inthe holder and contro va v 1 17 5 thernenerated o. a tuate q eble; mmber.. and secur th work ie i fixed. rela ionto .t ra ria e T rm-men movm n ,o the car ia e .32 .is :revers dx v he entro rdrumtfifl a di e enens movement h othergen .-o sa d .w rke piec iathreaded ono he is operate.une rb the rotary cutting tool 15.

a ed se ibed yclee opera on is r hea d t ac ura lvrth ea c eel-. th oppoite en of th r rpie e inrrap d c essi n- ,lt will be noted from theabovedescription that the per ti means: o t e .w r e riaees as .we atheo era inem nsi heav k-h d n l a in d ce th eo and. t e-enactin meansfor the work transfer-device are .all. con nected with and operativelycontrolled-bya, com.- mo ivin s e-i :54 whi h. derives it d vin powe .irm he s m e o pow seureewhichdrivesthe cutting tools I4 and lfi. flfheletore the several instrumentalities will be pos-v itiv lv pe a i aurately c elated t med relation;t0 each other,- as well as. tothecuttingo th adins' t a io o the too s 14 a i6.- By the provision of a singlepower drivenshait forope ating the several individual workcom. trolling;mechanisms it will be appre iatedthatl have materiallysi-rnplified and;increased thegpcrating efficiency of multiple-unit metal workingmachines of this type; that the means for establishing an operativeconnection between said controlling mechanisms and the power drivenshaft cornprises a minimum number of elements of simple structuralformwhich will be positive, eflicient and reliable in functional operation;and t at my present ,imurovem n s are re d y a plicable to multiple orsingleunit metal working machines 7 designed for performing variouskinds of grnttingpr forming operations on work pieces, withoutnecessitating any radical changein-the construction of such machines atcomparatively low additional cost.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the

sconeiotthe:inve itionhein indicated by thrflD-v pendedclaims; eher1than:bvthe.ioregoing-ida scription,- and -.;all..-- chan es whichcome within-the meanin and.ran e.-.oi Qdu'ivalencycof: the claims are.thereiorezintendcdctoz .beiembraced therein.

what is claimed.;an.d -.desired to .be :secured by United StatesLettersPatentis:

:1. :In .a metal working machine having two work: tormingdevices, a workholding device associated witheach-"iorming device, :andmeans forsimultaneously ;.oper.a-ting said holding .devices torzfeed amorh pieceto the associated-forming device and ato .--:r.etract' the sametherefrom, said meansuincluding a.power operated member common to both.of:;:=.the work-holding devices and having .aneans. controlling :thefeeding .and retracting movement-pf; one :of said devices inalternatingrelation to the corresponding movemen sof. the other work hold d 2. The;.combination idefined in claim 1, sin whiehsaid. control :member; and.the work. forming,:devices:are..:operated from a common power sourceintimed relation .to-each other.

.33. :Inia metalcworking machineshavinga plu rality of work forming.devices. andv powerv driven meansv for operating Saidadevices, .a. work:feeding and retracting. carriage associatedzwith each of said devices, adriving sha'ft .-.op,erativel-y con.- nected with apart of i said: powerdriven means, and means iorrsimultaneonsly transmitting feeding and-=r.etractingl movements to said carriages in alternating relationtoeach other and in timed relation to; the: operaticn of said formingdevices, said means including alcommon-control member directlycoactingwithmeansconnected to each carriage, and speedreduction gearingoperatively connecting said. member-with said driving shaft.

,-4.' The' combination :defi-ned in claim -3, together with awork-holding and releasing device on. each carriage, and:meansconnected-to and operable in synchronism with said carriagecontrol memberhfor-actuating said work holding and releasing devices.

*5. Ina metal :working machine having a pluralit-y ofrvorkiormingdevices, a work feeding and retracting -cdevice=associatedwith each of said tormi-ng devices; means controlling the actuationof-said worlcfeeding-and retracting devices in timed relation to eachother, including a-ccmmon poweroperated member, and means tortransferring-a-work piece from one of said feeding andretracting'devices to'another comprising a work carrieroperativelyconnected with and actuatedbysaid-power operated member intimed relation withthefeeding and retracting movements -,of saiddevices.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, in-whic-h 'each work feeding andretracting device comprises awork-holding and releasing member," andwherein'meansoperativel-y-connected with said poweroperated-memberactuates said work holding and releasing members in timed-relation withthe'fee'ding and retracting movements of the respective devices;

7. 111 ametal working machine havinga plural'ity of work formingdevices, a workholdin g device associated with. each forming device andin lud n a. movable (wor holdi and r l asin member, means forsimultaneously operating said holding devices to feed a work piece tothe associated forming device or to retract the same therefrom,comprising a rotatable power operated member common to said work holdingdevices and having means controlling the feeding and retractingmovements of the respective devices in timed relation with each other,and means including an actuating member connected to and rotating inunison with said power operated member to actuate the work holding andreleasing members of the respective work holding devices in timedrelation with the feeding and retracting movements of said devices.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, in which said actuating member ismounted in fixed coaxial relation with the power operated member.

9. The combination defined in claim '7, in which said actuating memberis provided with cam means for synchronizing the actuation of the workholding and releasing members with the operation of said control member.

10. The combination defined in claim 7, in which an operating motor isprovided for each work holding and releasing member, and said actuatingmember is provided with means controlling the energization of saidmotors.

11. In a metal working machine having a work forming device, a workholding device associated with said forming device, power operated meansfor actuating said forming device, a driving shaft :operativelyconnected with a part of said power operated means, means for operatingsaid work holding device to feed a work-piece to the forming device andto retract the same therefrom, including an independently rotatablecontrol member, and means operatively connecting said member with thedriving shaft to rotate said member at relatively low speed and actuatethe work holding device in timed relation to the operation of said workforming means.

12. In a metal working machine having a work forming device, a workholding and releasing device associated with said forming device, poweroperated means for actuating said forming device, a driving shaftoperatively connected with a part of said power operated means, meansfor operating said work holding device to feed a work-piece to theforming device and to retract the same therefrom, including anindependently rotatable control member, means operatively connectingsaid member with the driving shaft to rotate said member at relativelylow speed and actuate the work holding device in timed relation .to theoperation of said work forming means, and means operatively connectedwith said control member and actuated in synchronism therewith tocontrol the work holding and releasing device in timed relation with itsfeeding and retracting movements.

13. In a metal working machine having a Work forming device, a workholding and releasing device associated with said forming device, poweroperated means for actuating said forming device, a driving shaftoperatively connected with a part of said power operated means, meansfor operating said work holding and releasing device to feed awork-piece to the forming device and to retract the same therefrom;including an independently rotatable control member, and meansoperatively connecting said member with the driving shaft to rotate saidmember at relatively low speed and actuate the work holding device intimed relation to the operation of said work forming means, a fluidmotor for operating said work holding and releasing device to 8 hold andrelease the work, control means for said motor; and means operativelyconnected with said rotatable control member for actuating said motorcontrol means in timed relation with the feeding and retractingmovements of said work holding and releasing device.

14. The combination defined in claim 13, in which said rotatable controlmember comprises a drum having external cam means, and said last namedmeans comprises a cam member mounted within the drum in fixed relationthereto.

15. The combination defined in claim 13, in which said rotatable controlmember comprises a cam drum fixed to a tubular shaft surrounding saiddriving shaft, and said last named means comprises a cam member fixed tosaid tubular shaft within the drum.

16. The combination defined in claim 11, to-

gether with a work carrier for delivering a work piece to the workholding device, and means oper-' atively connecting said carrier to therotatable control member for actuation thereby in timed relation to thefeeding and retracting movements of said work holding device.

1'7. In a metal working machine having a work forming device, a workholding device having relatively movable parts associated with saidforming device, means including a member continuously operable in onedirection for bodily moving said work holding device to feed awork-piece to the forming device and to retract the same therefrom, andadditional means operatively controlled by a part of said last namedmeans to actuate said work holding device in timed relation to thfeeding and retracting movements of said device relative to the workforming device.

18. The combination defined in claim 17, wherein said means for bodilymoving the work holder includes a rotatable control member, and saidadditional means comprises a cam in fixed coaxial relation with saidcontrol member.

19. The combination defined in claim 17, in which said additional meansincludes a fluid motor operatively connected with a part of said workholding device.

20. In a metal working machine having a work forming device, a workholding device including a movable work holding and releasing member,means for reciprocating said holding device to feed a work-piece to theforming device and retract the same therefrom, said means comprising acam member controlling the feeding and retracting movements of said workholding device, and means for actuating said movable work holding andreleasing member including an actuating element connected to andoperable with said cam member.

NEVIN B. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

